Submarine handed over to French Navy

On 14 June, the nuclear attack submarine De Grasse, the fourth of the Barracuda class, was officially handed over to the French Navy. This followed four months of initial sea trials conducted under the supervision of the Direction générale de l'armement (DGA) and the military applications division of the Commissariat à l'énergie atomique et aux énergies alternatives (DAM/CEA). The submarine will enter active service after a long-duration deployment to test its military capabilities.

Construction advances for next submarine

Four months after the De Grasse’s handover, the fifth Suffren-class nuclear attack submarine, the Rubis, was moved from the construction hall at the Naval Group site in Cherbourg to the launching device in the Cachin basin. This is a crucial step before its scheduled launch next year. The launch can only happen after completion work and initial dock trials are finished.

Minister praises French naval success

Catherine Vautrin, the Minister of the Armed Forces, attended the ceremony marking the Rubis’s transfer. She praised the submarine as a symbol of French achievement, highlighting the collaboration between the Cotentin region, the defense industry, and the military. Vautrin emphasized France’s ability to combine industrial expertise with the skills of its sailors to achieve global military standards.

Rubis set for 2028 delivery

The Rubis is expected to be delivered to the French Navy in 2028. It will continue the legacy of the Q145 Rubis, a mine-laying submarine that received honors for its service in 28 combat missions with the Free French Naval Forces during World War II. The name Rubis will also be used for the sixth and final Suffren-class submarine, currently under construction.

Advanced capabilities of Suffren-class submarines

Suffren-class nuclear attack submarines have a submerged displacement of 5,300 tons, a length of 99 meters, and a diameter of 8.8 meters. They are equipped with sensors ten to fifteen times more advanced than those of earlier Rubis-class submarines. Their armament includes modernized anti-ship missiles, guided torpedoes, mines, and naval cruise missiles, along with a deck hangar for special forces operations.

Strategic military advantages

The Ministry of the Armed Forces stated that the Suffren-class submarines provide France with unique military capabilities. Their nuclear propulsion allows for greater endurance and discretion, making them faster and more versatile. They are also capable of deep-water strikes and special forces deployment, enhancing France’s strategic naval power.